Man slashed wife with corkscrew

MacLeod will be sentenced at the High Court next month

A man used a corkscrew to tear out part of his estranged wife's cheek, a court has been told.

Debra MacLeod, 46, heard her husband Ian MacLeod rummaging through a cutlery drawer before he said: "This will do".

As Mrs MacLeod tried to crawl to safety, he turned her over and began slashing at her face with the corkscrew.

MacLeod, 52, pled guilty to assaulting his wife to the danger of her life. Sentence was deferred.

The attack happened in Mrs MacLeod's home at a holiday park in Dunbar, East Lothian, on 8 August.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told that doctors later found Mrs MacLeod had eight stab wounds as well as fractures to bones in her face. She still needs further plastic surgery.

Mrs MacLeod was bleeding heavily from her face, had a large hole in her left cheek and her eyes were almost swollen shut Morag Jack Advocate depute

MacLeod had been originally been accused of attempted murder, but the Crown accepted his guilty plea to the lesser charge.

Judge Michael O'Grady QC was shown a series of photos - including one showing a piece of flesh on the kitchen counter at Mrs MacLeod's home.

The court heard that a month before the attack, MacLeod had been fined £100 and ordered to pay £50 compensation after admitting domestic assaults on his wife.

Advocate depute Morag Jack, prosecuting, told the court how MacLeod began phoning Mrs MacLeod to say he was sorry and asking if they could get back together. They spent a couple of days together in Blackpool.

He then turned up at her home with his suitcase. When Mrs MacLeod returned from a Friday night out with a friend she found him in her bed.

Ms Jack said Mrs MacLeod went to sleep in the spare room - taking a pair of scissors and a panic alarm with her.

The next morning, Mrs MacLeod got up, washed and dressed ready for work.

"He turned without warning, grabbed her by the throat, put her to the ground and started squeezing her throat," Ms Jack said.

"While she was pinned down the accused started punching her. He struck her between ten and 15 times. Multiple blows were directed to her face."

Background reports

He then attacked her with the corkscrew, Ms Jack said, adding: "The pain from these stab injuries was intense and again there were multiple blows to her face."

MacLeod then left, walked calmly to his car, and drove away.

Mrs MacLeod was seen staggering along the road and a neighbour who is a trained nurse stopped her choking on her own blood.

"Mrs MacLeod was bleeding heavily from her face, had a large hole in her left cheek and her eyes were almost swollen shut," said Ms Jack.

MacLeod was arrested two days later when he walked into a police station, saying he thought they were looking for him.

The judge was told: "Mrs MacLeod faces ongoing medical treatment and more operations in the coming year.

"She is a good looking woman whose appearance has been altered as well as being scarred by the assault."

Mrs MacLeod is divorcing her husband and plans to leave the Edinburgh area.

Unemployed MacLeod, of Edinburgh, was remanded in custody pending sentence next month when background reports have been prepared.